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| bundle suspended over boiling water |
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there." --Rumi
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Dyeing bundle of Plumbago flowers and leaves
I gathered some blue Plumbago flowers and leaves this morning and bundled them in some wet dupioni silk. I did some pounding while bundling with, of all things, a 5 lb. hand weight. I couldn't find my rubber mallet. I tied the bundle tightly and steamed it over boiling rain water for about 90 minutes. I then put it in a plastic bag, sunk it in a jar and put it out in the sun. We'll see how long I can hold out before unwrapping it. This is my first bundle attempt.
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7 comments:
Plumbago, what a good word, rolls around the tongue, almost makes me want to get up and do a little dance! Thanks for the plumbago link, lovely flowers, first time I ever saw them was when we lived in Texas. Deanna, you certainly have given it your all between the gathering, the pounding, the steaming and then in the jar. Do you think that by putting the bundle in the plastic it will act as another layer of insulation for heat trapping? Had never thought to bag my bundles before putting them out for solar heat. I just plunk the cloth bundles into the old canning jar and wait, and wait...hardest thing to do is the waiting. Really looking forward to your results. I've only been working with old cotton but someday, will try silk because it looks like it takes up the color much deeper than cotton.
That looks like fun Deanna. I dye too using flowers and leaves. I can see we are the same dye pots as Kaite! Can't wait to see the results - Hugs Nat
thanks for your comments Marti and Nat. Nat, i'm going to try and be patient.
Marti, the reason i put the bundle in the plastic bag is to keep it moist. just experimenting so don't know if it will work or not.
hi deanna, i hope you get a good result for your first steamed bundle.
I usually only leave them for 24/24, esp these floral ones, i'm thinking that they may rot if left for too long. The unsteamed, cold bundles are the ones that india leaves for a month. When you undo it, let it dry completely before washing, then iron it and let it sit again, and only then are you allowed to rinse it in cold water. If you rinse it too soon then you can lose a lot more colour.
Experimenting is the joy of all of this eco dyeing. After I place whatever I find in the cloth and roll and tie it up to make my eco bundles, I spritz the bundle with water, leftover tea or coffee, a splash of soy sauce, etc. so they are moist when they go into the jar. Screw on the lid and the bundles stay moist. As the heat builds up from the sun, the bundles "sweat" and continue to stay moist until I can't wait any longer and remove them from the jar. Fascinating to check on them and see the color form on the cloth.
The waiting is the hardest bit isn't it!
Really exciting Deanna. Can't wait to see it. I am learning a lot from these dyeing postings Great tips from everyone. G
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